Acupressure

How does acupressure work?

• Acupressure has been practiced for thousands of years.
• Western scientists only started studying acupressure over the past decade.
• Acupressure has been historically used to treat many medical conditions.
• Recent studies have shown that acupressure can be useful with chronic pain by reducing stress and anxiety, decreasing pain, improving sleep, and reducing fatigue.

We don’t yet know how pressing on specific acupoints on the body helps improves symptoms.

• It seems to be related to hormones and changes in the brain that are linked with pain.
• Acupressure has been found to change levels of chemical messengers in the brain. These messengers are called neurotransmitters.
  • Neurotransmitters can be responsible for chronic pain symptoms if they are too high or too low.
• Acupressure can reduce stress hormones in the body.
  • Decreasing these stress hormones helps to decrease anxiety, improve mood and promote better sleep.
• It is currently not known if all acupoints cause the same effects in the brain and body.
• The ways that acupressure works seems to depend on which acupoints are stimulated.

How to get started with self-acupressure?

• Step 1: Know which acupoints to press.
• Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that there is a set of acupoints that can help some people manage chronic pain, stress, and fatigue.
  • These points are called Stimulated Acupressure Points.
• Please watch the video to help locate these points.
• For an individualized approach to acupressure treatment, please contact a licensed acupuncturist for treatment recommendations.

Once you know where your acupoints are located, here is how to stimulate your acupoints:

• Stimulate each acupoint for 3 minutes using small circular motions.
• You can use the tip of your finger, thumb, device, or a pencil eraser to stimulate the acupoints.
• Use enough pressure to make the point feel warm, tingly or even achy.
• Don’t bruise yourself.
• Do not stop in the middle of stimulating an acupoint.
• Do the acupressure one time each day for 6 weeks.
• Try to choose the same time each day to perform the acupressure.

What to expect

• You should start to feel less pain during the six weeks of treatment.
• There may also be improvement in other symptoms like sleep or mood if these were causing you problems.
• The acupressure can be stopped after you finish your six weeks of treatment.
• You should continue to experience less pain after you stop.
• If your pain gets worse, feel free to continue doing acupressure once a day.
• Some people like to do acupressure every day.
• Others use booster sessions of acupressure throughout the year.
• Some people never need to do acupressure again.
• Different people have different reactions to acupressure – find what works for you.

Potential Risks

• Acupressure is generally considered quite safe.
• People can occasionally experience bruising at acupoint sites.
• Use less pressure when stimulating the acupoints if bruising occurs.
• Consider taking a few days off from doing your acupressure.
• If bruising persists, stop doing the acupressure – it may not be right for you.